Olumide Oworu: Politics Should Be About Service, Not Personal Enrichment

Actor-turned-politician, Olumide Oworu, has called for a transformation in Nigeria’s political culture, stressing that politics should prioritise service to the people rather than personal gain.

Speaking on the Clarity Zone podcast, Oworu said the country’s political space requires individuals with the vision, exposure, and capacity to drive meaningful change.

The former candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly in the 2023 elections argued that many young people avoid politics because of the negative perception surrounding the profession.

According to him, politics should attract educated and widely exposed individuals who are committed to contributing positively to society.

“Politics is two things – systems and service. I think the type of politics and the idea of who a politician is are why a lot of young people shy away from it because they think it is dirty and for the unexposed,” he said.

Oworu added that politics should not be treated as a lifelong career, warning that the rise of “career politicians” has contributed to many of the problems in Nigeria’s political system.

“But on the contrary, it is for people who are learned and well-travelled, people who have a means. Politics is not supposed to be a career, but for many people in Nigeria, it has become one, and that is the issue,” he stated.

He explained that when individuals rely solely on politics for survival, they become willing to do anything to secure or retain power, often resorting to political patronage.

“We have career politicians, and that is the problem. Because you are going to do whatever it takes to get into office, because you have no plan B,” he said.

Oworu also criticised the culture of godfatherism in Nigerian politics, noting that it persists largely because many politicians depend on powerful sponsors to secure positions.

“I don’t think that godfatherism should be in politics, but sadly, a lot of politicians have godfathers because of the style of politics we practice,” he added. “We need to change that. What should matter is capacity.”